compile

verb

com·​pile kəm-ˈpī(-ə)l 

compiled; compiling

transitive verb

1

: to compose out of materials from other documents

compile a statistical chart

2

: to collect and edit into a volume

compile a book of poems

3

: to build up gradually

compiled a record of four wins and two losses

4

: to run (something, such as a program) through a compiler

Synonyms

• collect

Examples of compile in a Sentence

He compiled a book of poems.

She compiled a list of names.

They took the best submissions and compiled them in a single issue of the magazine.

We compiled our findings in the report.

Recent Examples on the Web

The report compiled by the Star-Telegram contains data from July 20 through July 26 and 146 inspections. —Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Aug. 2025

For each meal, prisoners are allotted one hour, with the menu compiled by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, including macaroni, tacos, hotdogs and hamburgers. —James Bickerton, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Aug. 2025

For decades, the Wilson-era Rose Garden underwent only minor changes, according to a landscape report compiled in 2020. —Kyler Alvord, People.com, 1 Aug. 2025

Five years on, Joe Vardon compiled an oral history of the NBA’s pandemic bubble, with reflections from players, coaches, executives and journalists who were there with him. —Torrey Hart, New York Times, 31 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French compiler, from Latin compilare to plunder

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for compile

• argyle
• awhile
• beguile
• condyle
• defile
• erstwhile
• exile
• freestyle
• gentile
• hairstyle
• lifestyle
• meanwhile

Kids Definition

compile

verb

com·​pile kəm-ˈpīl 

compiled; compiling

1

: to collect into a volume or list

compile a book of poems

2

: to put together in a new form out of materials from other books or documents

compile a history of India

3

: to translate (as a computer program) with a compiler